Mechanical Systems Design Engineer — Drone Hardware

Perot Jain; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Skydio, a leading US drone company, is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to architect and refine structures for autonomous flight. You will design parts for aircraft and accessories, collaborating with electrical engineers to integrate PCBAs and harnesses, and work with vendors to resolve design questions.

The role spans prototyping through pre-production and mass production. You will contribute to tests, analyze trade-offs, and ensure parts meet performance goals, with mentorship and growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 0–3 years of hands-on product or hardware experience through internships, co-ops, student teams, research, or personal projects.
• Strong engineering fundamentals applied to open-ended design problems.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and multi-part assemblies.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and design decisions.
• Ability to create clear mechanical drawings with mentorship.
• Curiosity, attention to detail, and love of well‑designed hardware.
• Collaborative mindset in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical parts and assemblies for aircraft, ground stations, and accessories, taking ownership as you grow.
• Partner with electrical engineers to integrate PCBAs, flex circuits, antennas, and cable harnesses.
• Work with vendors on technical questions and part reviews with operations and supply chain.
• Plan and run engineering tests, analyze trade-offs, and verify performance of parts.
• Follow designs through the full development cycle toward mass production and assist manufacturing with assembly and inspection criteria.
• Investigate and debug failures to identify root causes.

Skills

Mechanical design

3D CAD

Design optimization

Detail orientation

Collaboration

Prototyping experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

FEA tools

Job description

Skydio, a leading US drone company, is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to architect and refine structures for autonomous flight. You will design parts for aircraft and accessories, collaborating with electrical engineers to integrate PCBAs and harnesses, and work with vendors to resolve design questions.

The role spans prototyping through pre-production and mass production. You will contribute to tests, analyze trade-offs, and ensure parts meet performance goals, with mentorship and growing